Today marks exactly one year since my
friend, Abass, Somalia’s then youngest minister was fatally killed in
Mogadishu, it was one of the most excruciating news I ever heard. It was more painful
when I learned the murderer was a government soldier, the very people who ought
to have protected him.

To the government, he was just a cabinet
minister like any other but to the Somali youth, a beacon of hope and to the
refugees trapped in Dadaab, the world’s largest refugee camp where he grew up,
Abass was an ambassador and a proof that they too could make it to the top.

The world was shocked, everyone cried, the
call for justice amplified and we were eagerly waiting for the rule of law to
prevail. In less than two months, the soldier whose shots killed Abass was
arrested, convicted in a military court and sentenced to death.

But to our bewilderment and disbelieve,
president Farmaajo blocked the death penalty by refusing to sign off the
execution order.

No one expected the president would ever stand
in the way of justice and would halt the whole process. To me, I see it as an absolute
betrayal as I know how Abass revered Farmaajo during his campaign in the run up
to the election that put him in the throne.

Abass was more than just a friend, he was
like a brother to me, we grew up together in the camps and he was the reason I
returned to Somalia for the first time in 15 years after fleeing the war at a young
age.

I called him when he was first elected to
the National Assembly and he told me how optimistic he was about the future of
Somalia and how he was willing to vote for Farmaajo, whom he believed would cherish
that optimism. Little did he know that the same man he fought for would today
decline to honour his demise and humiliate his family.

I have just talked to the family of Abass,
his mother is still in disbelief that her son was deprived in the most
despicable way, killed by the people he trusted and that president Farmaajo is
unwilling to heal her pain.

She watches Abass’ speeches on on YouTube
to feel closer to him and every time she sees Farmaajo on the news she asks
why he failed her. Since her son’s tragic death, she became so weak and lives
with pain every day as she keeps on waiting for the president to act.

I wonder whether Farmaajo is aware of the
pain and agony the family is still going through by the day and whether he
knows he is keeping the pain by holding the case of their son so long?

Despite enduring such trauma, Abass’s
parents are determined to continue the legacy of their son by allowing his
younger brother, Mohamud
Siraji to join the parliament and fulfil the dreams of the late minister.

The death of Abass was a national disaster
because he was representing young Somalis like me who looked up to him, he was
the hope of the Somali youth who make up 75 percent of the country’s 12 million
population.

The president was on an official visit to
Ethiopia on that fateful day, he had to cut his trip short and returned to the
country to “mourn and take part in the state burial of minister Abass.”

Pres Farmaajo, "I am deeply saddened by the death of minister Abass. He was young, diligent and patriotic"

"I have ordered the security heads to
immediately get to the bottom of this unfortunate tragedy and make sure the
perpetrators are brought to book," he tweeted.

This was reassuring, as he promised the
investigation was prompt, the military cleared their name, the man was brought
to book and convicted of intentionally killing the minister.

Twelve months have gone now and the ruling
is still on the president’s desk. But why would he be so hesitant to sign the
execution order?

The man convicted of the murder is said to
be from one of the most powerful clans in Mogadishu, they threatened the
president to be mindful of his decision on the matter and asked him to reverse
the ruling or risk losing his seat.

This is not a rumour but rather a fact,
members of the man’s tribe openly protested
in the capital, warning
of severe consequences should their ‘son’ be executed.And when members of the parliament and
ministers in favour of Abass asked the president why he delayed the process, he
told them to give him time, as he was in talks with the families of the people
involved.

The family of Abass told me that this clan tried several times to convince them to forgive the convicted killer and take compensation. However, they strongly objected the offer and insisted the court ruling to be upheld.

Farmaajo’s campaign promise was to stand
with the weak and change the cause of the country by moving from clan system to
the rule of law. But today there are questions to be asked about Farmajo’s
morality and whether he is taking the country back to the dark days.

This particular high profile case is a
litmus test for the president’s principal and leadership quality.

Dear Mr president, the Somali youth are
watching your actions and remember we are writing your history.